We believe the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, is the written Word of God. The Bible is God's unique revelation to humankind. It is the inspired, infallible Word of God, and the supreme and final authority on all matters upon which it teaches (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12, 13).

We believe there is only one God, who exists eternally and co-equally as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each fully God, each personally distinct from the other. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6; John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

We believe in God the Father, the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible. God the Father is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being,

wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, truth and love (Genesis 1:1-3; 1 Kings 8:27; Job 26:14; Psalm 104:24; 145:16; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 4:8).

We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God and the only Mediator between God and humanity. In the fullness of time, the eternal Son took on humanity, being born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, willingly bore our sins and their penalty unto death on the cross, then rose again bodily, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He rules over all things as our Advocate. He will return at the command of the Father, bringing about the bodily resur- rection from the dead—of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with God in a new creation and the unbeliever unto eternal judgement and separation (Acts 17:31; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 1:3–5 and 2:24; Revelation 21:1-4).

We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God—fully divine. He exalts Christ, convicts humanity of their sin, righteousness and judgment. At the moment of regeneration He opens the minds and hearts of the repentant so they might believe, and He unites every believer into the Body of Christ. By His presence and power in the life of those who believe, He cultivates Christian character, renews their desires after the will of God, and He comforts, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which followers of Jesus serve God through His church. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism and service. According to the sovereign will of God, and at times, the earnest request of His people, the Spirit powerfully en- acts works of deliverance in accordance with and authentication of the Gospel (Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 14:26; 15:25-27 and 16:7-8, 14-15; Ephesians 1:16-18; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12 and 14; Isaiah 61:1-4; Luke 4:18-21; Acts 4:8-12; James 5:12-16).

We believe that God created all things through the power of His Word and Spirit, and in partic- ular, He created mankind in His own image, as male and female—sexually and biologically dis- tinct, but with equal personal dignity and value. Humanity was blessed to live in unique rela- tionship to God, to one another, and in loving stewardship over the creation. We believe that God ordained marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman for the mutual help of the husband and wife, as together they sought to serve God’s purposes in their stew- ardship of creation (Genesis 1:1-4, 26-28; Psalm 33:6, 9; Genesis 2:18, 24-25; Ephesians 5:18- 33).

We believe that when the first couple sinned and rebelled against God—in their attempt to de- fine good and evil for themselves—this disordered and severed humanity’s communion with the good and loving God, their intimacy with one another, and their stewardship of creation, introducing brokenness of all kinds—physical, psychological, relational, spiritual and even cosmic. From that original sin, corruption, pollution, and perversion has continued, inclining and even binding all humanity to evil, along with its desires, actions and the ultimate conse- quence of death (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:19-20; Romans 1:18-32; 6:23).

We believe that the Gospel is the only hope for rebellious humanity, and through it, by His grace, God forgives the sins of all who believe, and renews those who live in a posture of on- going, humble dependence upon His designs and commands. While faith in the Gospel will not bring perfection to us physically, psychologically, relationally and spiritually while on earth, nevertheless through faith, God graciously reorients those who believe, unto His good commands and good designs for human identity and relationships, transforming them to various degrees in this life, and ultimately in the life to come (Ezekiel 36:25-27; Romans 3:24; 8:18-30; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:1-17; 2 Peter 1:3-11).

We believe that the Gospel is the announcement of the good news concerning what God has done to save sinners and reconcile all things to himself through Jesus. This “good news” was anticipated and foreshadowed by the promises, sacrifices and various signs found in the Old Testament. The good news was made manifest in the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascen- sion of Jesus, and will be consummated at His return. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation and transformation of everyone who believes (Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 9:11-12; Genesis 3:15; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 1:13-14).

We believe the local church is a congregation of believers who gather for worship, prayer, teaching, encouragement and community with each other. Through it, believers invest time, energy, money and gifts to fulfill the Great Commission. We recognize baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the church. We believe that the ultimate mission of the Church is to make disciples through the preaching of the gospel and missional living. Mission is the responsibility of every follower of Jesus, and it is the Church’s role to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41, 42; Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

We believe that on the Last Day, at the return of Jesus Christ, all those who are found alive shall not die, but be transformed, and all those who are dead shall be raised up, their bodies resurrected—those made righteous through Christ unto honor, where they live eternally in the new creation, and those unrighteous unto dishonor, where they will be eternally separated from the presence of the Living God (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 21:1-4; John 5:25-29; Daniel 12:1-2).ription